Chapter 6

Guri-chan's front legs were adorned with a tin bracelet that stored a saddle and reins. By rubbing the engraved spell with her fingertips, the items would appear.

It seemed that the previous head of the family had attached it, but it was apparently Guri-chan's favorite.

"Guri-chan, I'm going to put on the saddle."

"Pip!"

First, I spread a cushioned pad for the saddle on Guri-chan's back, then placed the saddle on top. Next, I slowly and gently tightened the girth belt to secure the saddle in place. Finally, I attached the headstall to her beak and put on the reins, completing the preparations for riding Guri-chan.

While stroking under her beak, I said, "I'm counting on you."

I placed the raccoon fairy sisters in a basket and hung it on the saddle. Then, I stepped into the stirrup and mounted the saddle.

"Guri-chan, I'm ready. Please guide us to the Hermitage."

"Piii!"

Guri-chan flapped her pure white wings and took off into the sky. The air was colder up high. The wind whistled like a knife, cutting sharply. My cheeks stung, and my ears felt as if they were frozen.

This was my first time riding Guri-chan in the dead of winter, so the cold was unexpected. I pulled my hood deeper over my head and tried to endure it.

"Muku, Moko, Mofu, are you cold?"

"Fine!"

"Not cold at all."

"Is Beatrice cold?"

They offered to warm me up, but moving in the air would be dangerous. Though their offer was kind, I politely declined.

We flew over the vast forest, away from the capital. The area was at a high altitude, and it was snowing, making everything white. The air seemed even colder up here, and my teeth chattered.

I told myself to bear with it a little longer and waited for our arrival. Perhaps noticing that I was freezing, Guri-chan hurried. About forty minutes after taking off from the capital, we descended into the forest. We landed in an open area within the forest. There was nothing there, and I couldn't help but look around.

I gave Guri-chan plenty of magic gemstones as a reward for guiding us here. She ate them skillfully with her small tongue, which tickled my palm each time it touched it. I held the basket with Muku, Moko, and Mofu and thought about what to do next. Did it mean we should walk from here? Looking into the depths of the forest, there didn't seem to be any houses.

"Pii!"

Guri-chan approached me and picked up the key hanging from a chain around her neck with her beak. It seemed like she was asking me to take it. When I took the key, a magic circle suddenly appeared in front of me. It was shaped like a clock with a keyhole in the center.

"Should I insert the key here?"

"Pii!"

It felt like she said, "Yes!" I inserted and turned the key. The clock's hands began to move. Upon closer inspection, the magic circle had years and dates engraved on it, including the date from fifty years ago when my grandfather had visited the Hermitage. My grandfather probably hadn't set foot here since my grandmother passed away. When the clock's hands stopped, the year and date changed to today's. Not only that, but a magic circle appeared at my feet, and the scenery changed.

"Whoa, kyaa!"

The sensation of being lifted was brief, and I soon found myself standing in a lush garden.

The garden was surrounded by snow-covered herbs. Trees grew densely around the garden, and there was a pavilion in the center. There were also a greenhouse and a fountain, making it a splendid garden. Behind me was a two-story house with a gabled roof that resembled a book lying open, made of honey-colored bricks, giving it a charming appearance.

Despite no one having set foot here for fifty years, the plants were not withered, and the garden was well-maintained.

"This is the Hermitage..."

"That's right!"

I was surprised to hear a clear and confident response, not from the raccoon fairy sisters or Guri-chan. It was a voice that sounded like a spirited craftsman. Looking in the direction of the voice, I saw a squirrel fairy with a twisted towel wrapped around its head, holding pruning shears.

"Are you the medicine beast here?"

"Yeah, that's right!"

In exchange for eating the fruits and herbs in the garden, the medicine beast maintained the plants. I remembered that my grandfather's letter mentioned that the garden's plants were cared for by a medicine beast.

"Are there medicine beasts like you in this garden?"

"Plenty of them!"

Although the squirrel fairy didn't know the exact number, it seemed that the medicine beasts took care of the herbs and trees daily.

"I'm Beatrice, the new caretaker of the Hermitage. Please take care of me from now on."

"Sure, count on me!"

The squirrel fairy said it was a sign of friendship and gave me many walnuts. I had nothing to offer in return at the moment, but I thought I would try to give something back little by little.